A 3 year old Birthday

Three Months

We have been here three months and there are days I don't feel I have much to show for my time here.   Then something wonderful happened:

I made bread!

Yes is really took me three months and I don't want to count how many tries, but I finally made bread.  Actual edible bread!  I always have a slight lull as I trouble shoot and figure out my bread for each climate we live in, but I was getting a little discourage this time.  I was starting to wonder if I needed to just embrace the local bread while we are here.  But the need to HAVE to run to the store for bread is something I don't desire so we kept working on it.  Finally I got it!  Maybe we can function here as ourselves after all.

Table Topper

This is what happens when Matthew gets hungry.  Since he has found this new climbing skill it is mandatory to keep the kitchen table cleaned up after every meal.  Otherwise Matthew will just take things into his own hands.  When our other children where at this stage I could prevent a little of this by simply keeping the table's chairs pushed in and under the table.  This house has a fabulous build in kitchen table with a bench that goes around it.  It is awesome and very German, but there is no way to scoot the bench "under" the table.  Luckily there are doors on every room, so sometimes I can keep him off by just closing the doors and leaving the kitchen.

Regardless of the woes, He is still cute when he is getting into mischief.

Bat Girl

 Meet Bat Girl!

 She is the newest of our superhero family.

 Actually I have pictures of each one of the boys dressed like this at the 2-3 year old age.  It cracks me up to see each of them act so similar when they put on this particular outfit.

I particularly LOVE the red bows in her hair beneath the mask.  Just thought I would share this little stage of Jane's life with you.

Love you all!

It is official!

Many things are still a little unknown to us here.  Like why do people generally walk around with what appears to be a not so friendly face, when they are indeed pretty happy and friendly people?  And why is there so MANY forms of Gouda?  (Which by the way you pronounce "Uuda" if you ever say "Gooda" to a local they will definitely not approve.)

But one thing we have officially figured out.  We are expecting our newest addition this coming winter and the due date is now official:

December 14th!

Yes, that is actually Matthew's b-day.   As humans we think we are in control of life, but this is a great example of the Lord's will.  Do I think it will come on it's due date?  No.  But then again someone higher than me is in control of these things.  At least we have an official date to count toward.  The count is always exciting!

Wrap-Up on Oberammergau

 The second week we were in Oberammergau, Nato had a chance to take Jacob, Emma and Benjamin to Kofel Peak.  

 It was quite a hike, but they did great!  Nato's commented that Benjamin just kept going and going.  This should be no surprise as he seems to have endless energy at home.  As they neared the top there were cables to help them stay steady and safe.  At least that is what they told Robin to keep her from worrying.

 We also saw another castle.  This is Linderhoff.  It was built for the same King that New Swanstein was built for.  The castle itself was pretty small, but the ground are huge and beautiful!  

 This fountain went off about every half hour.  

 The King was very big on fairy tales and fantasies.

 We walked and walk and only saw about 1/3 of the grounds.

 Down at the bottom is the castle.  This staircase of water he could see right from his bedroom window.

 In the castle he had a "magic" table.  The table would lower down to the bottom levels where the servants would fill the table with food.  Then they lift it up into the dinning room where he could dine alone and pretend it was magically filled.

 To say he was crazy would be an understatement.  He wanted to live in a fantasy land and he sure did his best to get one.

 He had a grotto built inside a cave in the back of the grounds.  

 Matthew

 Emma

 Crazy or not the place is really pretty and really interesting to explore.

 Of course carrying Jane and Matthew up and down all the hills soon became tiresome so Robin graciously volunteered to sit with them a while so the others could keep exploring.

 Emma, Jacob, Philip and Benjamin

 Philip

 The boys

 Sir Benjamin!

Our Troops!